WA R N I N G
Keep your hands on the steering wheel rim
when using fingers on the steering shift
switches:
Putting your hands inside the rim of the
steering wheel when using the steering
shift switches is dangerous. If the driver's
air bag were to deploy in a collision, your
hands could be impacted causing injury.
NOTE
When driving slowly, the gears may not
shift up.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the RED ZONE
while in manual shift mode. In addition,
manual shift mode switches to automatic
shift mode while the accelerator pedal is
completely depressed.
This function is canceled while the DSC
is turned off. However, if the vehicle is
continuously driven at a high rpm, the
gears may automatically shift up to
protect the engine.
The steering shift switch can be used
temporarily even if the selector lever is
in the D position while driving. In
addition, it returns to automatic shift
mode when the UP switch (+/OFF) is
pulled rearward for a sufficient amount
of time.
▼ Manually Shifting Down
You can shift gears down by operating the
selector lever or the steering shift
switches
*.
M6 → M5 → M4 → M3 → M2→ M1
Using selector lever
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
selector lever forward – once.
Using steering shift switch*
To shift down to a lower gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the DOWN
switch (–) to ward you once with your
fingers.
1. DOWN switch (–)
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position
while in the manual mode, the speed limi t is set as follows: When the
selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.
1. 1st
2. 2nd
3. 3rd
4. 4th
5. 5th
6. 6th
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower than the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down wh ile the vehicle speed exceeds th e speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does not shift down, the gear
position indication flashes 2 tim es to notify the driver that the gear cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, th e gear shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown while the DSC is turned off.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle spe ed during deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains in
second.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Direct Mode*
▼Direct Mode
Direct mode can be u
sed for temporarily
switching gears by operating the steering
shift switch while the vehicle is being
driven with the selector lever in the D
position.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate a nd the gear position
in use is illuminated.
1. Direct mode indication
2. Gear position indication
Direct mode is canceled (released) under
the following conditions.
The UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer.
The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating).
The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct mode
may not be possible depending on the
vehicle speed. In addition, because direct
mode is canceled (released) depending on
the rate of acceleration or if the
accelerator is fully depressed, use of the
manual shift mode is recommended if you
need to drive the ve hicle in a particular
gear for long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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Driving Tips
▼Driving Tips
WA R N I N G
Do not let the vehicle move in a direction
opposite to the direction selected by the
selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward with
the selector lever in a forward position, or
do not let the vehicle move forward with
the selector lever in the reverse position.
Otherwise, the engine may stop, causing
the loss of the power brake and power
steering functions, and make it
difficult to
control the vehicle which could result in an
accident.
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, depress
the accelerator fully. The transmission will
shift to a lower gear, depending on vehicle
speed.
NOTE
The accelerator pedal may initially feel
heavy as it is being depressed, then feel
lighter as it is depressed further. This
change in pedal force aids the engine
control system in determining how much
the accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown, and
functions to control whether or not
kickdown should be performed.
While the selector lever is in the M
position and the DSC is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
depressed. Operate the selector lever.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift to
lower gears, depending on load weight and
grade steepness. Desce nd slowly, using the
brakes only occasionally to prevent them
from overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
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NOTE
To release the parking brake when the
ignition is switched OFF, it is necessary to
cancel the parking brake auto operation.
For details, refer to Canceling the parking
brake automatic operation.
Releasing the parking brake
automatically
If the accelerator pedal is depressed with
the parking brake ap plied and all of the
following conditions met, the parking
brake is released automatically. When the
parking brake is released, the EPB
indicator light in the instrument cluster
and the EPB switch indicator light turn
off.
The engine is running.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver's seat belt is fastened.
(Manual transmission vehicle)
The shift lever is i n a position other
than neutral.
The clutch pedal is depressed halfway.
(Automatic trans mission vehicle)
The selector lever is in the D, M, or R
position.
NOTE
If something such as the driver's foot
contacts the accelerator pedal with the
engine running and the parking brake
applied, the parking brake might be
released automatically. If you do not
intend to start driving the vehicle
immediately, shift the shift lever to the
neutral position for a manual
transmission, or shift the selector lever to
the P or N position for an automatic
transmission.
Canceling the parking brake automatic
operation
The parking brake automatic operation can
be canceled by doing any of the following
after switching the ignition from ON to
OFF.
Auto operation cancel method 1
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Turn off the AUTOHOLD.
3. Press the EPB switch continuously for 2 seconds or longer (until a sound is
activated).
4. Release the EPB switch and switch the ignition OFF within 5 seconds after the
sound was activated.
After the auto opera tion is canceled, a
sound is activated one time, and the
EPB switch indicato r light switches
from illumination t o flashing, and then
turns off afte r 3 seconds.
Auto operation cancel method 2
1. Switch the ignition ON.
2. Turn off the AUTOHOLD.
3. Switch the ignition OFF with the EPB switch pressed.
When the auto operation is canceled, a
sound is activated one time, and the
EPB switch indicator light from
normal flashing to faster flashing, and
then turns off after 3 seconds.
NOTE
When canceling the parking brake auto
operation and parking the vehicle, shift
the shift lever to the 1st gear or the R
position for a manual transmission, or
shift the selector l ever to the P position
for an automatic transmission, and then
use wheel blocks.
When Driving
Brake
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▼AUTOHOLD System is Turned On
Press the AUTOHOLD
switch and when
the AUTOHOLD standby indicator light
turns on, the AUTOHOLD function turns
on.
1. AUTOHOLD standby indicator light
NOTE
When all of the following conditions are
met, the AUTOHOLD standby indicator
light turns on when the AUTOHOLD
switch is pressed and the AUTOHOLD
function turns on.
The ignition is switched ON (engine is
running).
The driver's seat belt is fastened.
The driver's door is closed.
There is no problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
To operate AUTOHOLD and hold the
brakes
1. Depress the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. The AUTOHOLD active indicator light in the instrument cluster turns on
and the brakes are held.
3. The vehicle is held in its stopped
position even with the brake pedal
released.
NOTE
When all of the following conditions are
met, the AUTOHOLD operates and the
brakes are held.
The ignition is swit ched ON (engine is
running).
The vehicle is stopped.
The brake pedal is being depressed.
The AUTOHOLD active indicator light
turns on.
The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
The driver's seat belt is fastened.
The driver's door is closed.
There is no problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
The parking brake is released.
There is no problem with the Electric
Parking Brake (EPB) function.
(Automatic transmission vehicle)
The selector lever is in a position other
than R position or the vehicle tilts
forward with the selector lever in the R
position.
To release AUTOHOLD and start
driving the vehicle
If you do any of the following actions to
resume driving the vehicle, the brakes will
be released automatically and the
AUTOHOLD active indi cator light turns
off.
(Manual transmission vehicle)
You start to release the clutch pedal with
the shift lever shifted to a position other
than the neutral position
(Automatic transmission vehicle)
The accelerator pedal is depressed.
When Driving
Brake
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The vehicle tilts rearward or the
selector lever is shifted to the R
position on level ground.
NOTE
If the Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
switch is pulled while the AUTOHOLD
is operating, the parking brake is
applied and the AUTOHOLD is
released. In addition, if the parking
brake is released under this condition,
the AUTOHOLD operates to hold the
brakes.
Under the following conditions, the
parking brake is automatically applied
and the AUTOHOLD is released. The
AUTOHOLD is re-enabled when the
conditions before the AUTOHOLD is
released are restored.
The driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
The driver’s door is opened.
When about 10 minutes or longer have
passed since the AUTOHOLD operation
started, the parking brake is
automatically applied. Because the
AUTOHOLD is restored when releasing
the parking brake, the hold on the
brakes by AUTOHOLD function
resumes.
(Manual transmission vehicle)
When starting to drive the vehicle
forward or in reverse on a down slope,
depress the clutch pedal and shift the
shift lever to the appropriate position for
driving in the desired direction, and then
depress the accelerator pedal to release
the AUTOHOLD.
The AUTOHOLD can be canceled
forcibly by fully depressing the
accelerator pedal for 1 second or longer
while the AUTOHOLD is operating.
Forcibly cancel the AUTOHOLD only
when the AUTOHOLD cannot be
canceled due to a system malfunction or
it is necessary to cancel the
AUTOHOLD in an emergency.
▼AUTOHOLD System is Turned Off
Depress the brake pedal and press the
AUTOHOLD switch. The AUTOHOLD is
turned off and the AUTOHOLD standby
indicator light turns off.
1. AUTOHOLD standby indicator light
NOTE
When the brakes are not held such as
while driving the vehicle, the
AUTOHOLD can be turned off only by
pressing the AUTOHOLD switch.
When Driving
Brake
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If the AUTOHOLD switch is pressed
without depressing the brake pedal
while AUTOHOLD is operating
(AUTOHOLD active indicator light in
instrument cluster is turned on), the
message “Depress Brake Pedal and
Operate Switch to Release” is indicated
on the multi-information display to
notify the driver to depress the brake
pedal.
If any of the follow ing conditions occurs
while the AUTOHOLD function is
operating (AUTOHOLD active indicator
light is turned on), the parking brake is
applied automatically and the
AUTOHOLD function turns off. For the
Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
operation, refer to the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) on page 4-64.
The ignition is switched OFF.
There is a problem with the
AUTOHOLD function.
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
▼ Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
The HLA functions to assist in
accelerating the vehicle from a stop on
slopes. When releasing the brake pedal
and depressing the accelerator pedal to
accelerate the vehicle from a stop while on
a slope, the function prevents the vehicle
from rolling. The HLA also operates when
reversing on a slope.
The braking force is maintained
automatically after releasing the brake
pedal on a steep slope.
For manual transmission vehicles, the
HLA operates when the vehicle is tilted
rearward with the shift lever in a forward
gear, and operates when the vehicle is
tilted forward with th
e shift lever in the R
position.
For automatic transmi ssion vehicles, the
HLA operates when the vehicle is tilted
rearward with the s elector lever in a
forward gear, and operates when the
vehicle is tilted forward with the selector
lever in the R position.
WA R N I N G
Do not rely completely on HLA:
HLA is an auxiliary device for accelerating
from a stop on a slope. The system only
operates for about 2 seconds and
therefore, relying only on the system, when
accelerating from a stop is dangerous
because the vehicle may move (roll)
unexpectedly and cause an accident.
When Driving
Brake
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